Live wallpaper transforms Xiaomi’s screen into a dynamic picture: from smoothly changing gradients to interactive 3D-But many users are faced with the problem of the function hidden in the non-obvious menu or not at all in the basic firmware. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to activate animated wallpaper - from standard tools. MIUI/HyperOS before installing third-party launchers and APK-file.
Xiaomi's feature is that the availability of live wallpaper depends on the smartphone model, firmware version and region. For example, on flagships (Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Redmi K70 Pro) the function is sewn into the system, and on budget devices (Poco M6, Redmi 12C) it is often cut down. We tested the instructions on MIUI 14.0.5 and HyperOS 1.0, so the methods are relevant for most of the current devices of the brand.
Important: Some methods require unlocking the bootloader or the superuser (root) rights. If you are a beginner, start with the standard methods (sections 2–3), and leave the firmware experiments for later.
1. Standard live wallpaper in MIUI/HyperOS: where to look?
Since MIUI 12, Xiaomi has added a built-in live wallpaper gallery, but access to it is not always intuitive. With newer firmware versions (HyperOS), the path has changed — let’s look at both options.
On devices with MIUI 12-14:
- Press the free area of the main screen for a long time.
- Choose Wallpaper (or Themes) → Wallpaper).
- Scroll down to the Live Wallpaper section (may be called Dynamic or Animated).
On HyperOS (2026):
- Open the Settings → Screen.
- Stick to the wallpaper style → Live wallpaper.
- If there is no section, try the path: Topics → My wallpaper. → badge ⚡ (lightning) in upper right corner.
What if there's no section? Possible reasons:
- 📱 Budget model: on Redmi A2, Poco C50 And similar live wallpaper is often turned off at the firmware level.
- 🌍 Regional restrictions: in global versions MIUI (MIUI Global) functionality is reduced compared to Chinese (MIUI China).
- 🔄 Outdated firmware: update the system in Settings → The phone. → Update of the PO.
2.Hidden live wallpaper: how to unlock through themes
Xiaomi hides some of the animated wallpaper in the Topics section, which is not displayed in the standard gallery, but can be activated via a workaround.
Instructions:
- Open the Themes app (if not, download it from Google Play).
- In the search box, enter a request: live wallpaper or live wallpaper.
- Select your favorite theme and click Apply.
- If wallpaper does not apply, long press on the desktop → Wallpaper → select the downloaded theme manually.
🔹 Secret Lifehack: Some Wallpapers Are Hidden Behind Paid Themes, But You Can Get Them For Free:
- 🎁 Use promo codes from the official Xiaomi community (for example, in the Telegram channel). MIUI Russia).
- 🔄 Install. MIUI Theme Editor (requires root) to extract wallpaper from paid themes.
- 📥 Download. APK-Topics files from sites like miuithemes.com (virus risk – check with antivirus!).
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If the wallpaper is applied but not animated, restart the phone. On some models, the animation only turns on after the reboot.
3. Installation of live wallpaper via APK (no root)
If there are few built-in wallpapers, you can install third-party from Google Play or APK-Best applications for Xiaomi:
| Annex | Features | Compatibility | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallpapers Craft | 3D-effects, reaction to tilt, customization | All models on Android 10+ | Paid wallpaper, high battery consumption |
| Kappboom | Wallpaper with clock, weather, battery widget | MIUI 12–HyperOS | Advertising requires permission to overlay |
| Live Wallpapers 4K | Large library HD-animation | Android 9+ | It doesn’t work well on Redmi 9A and so on. |
| Muzei | Automatic change of wallpaper (including live) | All models. | No Russian language, complex settings |
How to determine:
- Download APK from the official website or APKMirror (avoid pirate sources!).
- Allow installation from unknown sources: Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install unknown applications.
- Install APK and open the app.
- Select wallpaper and apply through Install as wallpaper.
⚠️ Attention: some live wallpapers from Google Play contain hidden ads or mining scripts. Check the reviews and ratings of the app before installing. Be especially careful about applications that request access to SMS, Contacts or Geolocation - wallpapers do not need these permissions!
4. Live wallpaper via ADB (for advanced users)
If standard methods don’t work, you can force the hidden wallpaper to activate via ADB. This method does not require root, but you need basic knowledge of working with the command line.
Step-by-step:
- Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Return to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging over USB.
- Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
- Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a folder.
- Open the command line in this folder and type: adb shell settings put global live_wallpaper_enabled 1
- Reboot the phone.
After that, the wallpaper settings should appear in the section Live wallpaper. If not, try an alternative command:
adb shell am start -n com.android.wallpaper.livepicker/.LiveWallpaperPreviewWhat if the ADB can’t see the device?
5. live wallpaper on a locked screen (Lockscreen)
On Xiaomi, you can install live wallpaper only on the desktop or on both screens (desktop + lock).
- Install live wallpaper in the standard way (section 1 or 2).
- Open Settings → Screen → Lock the screen.
- Select Wallpaper → Gallery → Find the LiveWallpapers folder (created automatically when you install animated wallpaper).
- Apply the wallpaper to the locked screen.
Limitations:
- 🔋 Animation on locking consumes a lot of battery (up to 15% per hour in standby mode).
- 🔒 On some models (Redmi Note 11, Poco) X3 Pro) animation only works after unlocking.
- 🛡️ If the Power Saving Mode is turned on, the live wallpaper on the lock is automatically turned off.
Battery level of charge > 50%|Power saving mode is off.|The phone doesn't overheat.|The firmware has been updated to the latest version-->
6.Optimizing productivity: how to reduce lag
Live wallpaper can slow the interface, especially on weak smartphones (Redmi 10A, Poco M3).
Optimization methods:
- ⚙️ Reduce. FPS animations: in the wallpaper settings, select Economy mode (if any).
- 🗑️ Clear the cache: Settings → Annexes → Wallpaper. → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
- 🔄 Turn off animation when scrolling: Settings → Special facilities → Remove animations.
- 📉 Use light wallpaper: avoid 3D-effects and particles (for example, wallpaper with falling snow brakes more than simple gradients).
On devices with a Snapdragon 4xx or Helio Gxx processor, live wallpaper can cause overheating and forced reboots. If the temperature is above 45°C (check in Settings → About Phone → Status), turn off the animation immediately!
| Xiaomi model | Recommended type of wallpaper | Max, FPS without lags. |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | 3D, particles, video wallpaper | 60 FPS |
| Poco X5 Pro | Gradients, simple animations | 30 FPS |
| Redmi 10C | Only static or light living | 15 FPS |
| Xiaomi 13 Ultra | Any other, including interactive | 90 FPS |
7. Alternative launchers with live wallpaper
If standard methods don't work, try installing a third-party launcher with animation support.The best options for Xiaomi are:
Top.-3 launcher:
- 🌌 Nova Launcher: supports live wallpapers via plugins (such as Muzei or Wallpapers Craft) and a paid Premium version for advanced features.
- 🎨 Lawnchair: lightweight open source launcher. Supports animated wallpaper without additional plugins.
- ⚡ Hyperion Launcher: Optimized for Xiaomi, has a built-in gallery of live wallpaper.
How to determine:
- Download the launcher from Google Play.
- Assign it to the default launcher (at the first start, an offer will appear).
- Long click on the desktop → Wallpaper → choose live wallpaper from the launcher gallery.
⚠️ Note: Some launchers may conflict with system gestures on HyperOS. If swipes stop working after installation (e.g., backtracking), return the standard launcher to Settings → Annexes → By default. → Launcher.
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The launcher side is the only way to get live wallpaper on devices with heavily stripped-down firmware (such as the Redmi A1 or Poco C40).